Key TakeawaysA new study found that autistic adults are three times more likely to misuse substances to manage mental health symptoms.Experts say that this may highlight an issue with people trying to mask their autistic symptoms, rather than coping with them.Autistic adults often face barriers when accessing healthcare, including mental health treatment.

Key Takeaways

A new study found that autistic adults are three times more likely to misuse substances to manage mental health symptoms.Experts say that this may highlight an issue with people trying to mask their autistic symptoms, rather than coping with them.Autistic adults often face barriers when accessing healthcare, including mental health treatment.

Autistic individuals sometimes use camouflaging, a strategy to mask autistic traits, to feel comfortable in social situations.

“There were quite a few people that talked about using substances to try and focus,“Elizabeth Weir,co-author of the study and PhD student at Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre, tells Verywell. “Several people specifically said I use it to manage my autism. I use it to connect with other people. I use it to get comfortable.”

What Is Camouflaging?

For the study, researchers surveyed 1,183 autistic and 1,203 non-autistic people aged between 16-90 and asked about the frequency of their substance use as well as their experiences.

Although autistic people were three times more likely to use recreational substances for medicating mental health, they were less prone to substance misuse, researchers found. For example, autistic individuals were less likely to drink alcohol regularly or engage in binge drinking. Respondents also reported factors that would make them susceptible to misuse of substances, such as being tricked or forced into using drugs in childhood.

Finding ways to cope with a disability or a health condition can be useful. For example, an autistic individual may engage instimming, like hand-flapping and repeating words, to cope with sensory overload. However, camouflaging can lead to worsening mental health and increased risk of suicide.

5 Reasons Why an Autism Diagnosis Is Missed

What Is Stimming?The term “stimming” is short for self-stimulatory behavior and is sometimes also called “stereotypic” behavior. Stimming usually refers to specific behaviors that include hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, orrepetition of words and phrases. Autistic people stim to help themselves to manage anxiety, fear, anger, excitement, anticipation, and other strong emotions.

What Is Stimming?

The term “stimming” is short for self-stimulatory behavior and is sometimes also called “stereotypic” behavior. Stimming usually refers to specific behaviors that include hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, orrepetition of words and phrases. Autistic people stim to help themselves to manage anxiety, fear, anger, excitement, anticipation, and other strong emotions.

Members of the autism community may feel pressured to hide their autistic traits in order to blend in with neurotypical individuals in social situations and at work, a 2017 study found.

“A more pragmatic aspect of this motivation was the desire to obtain jobs and qualifications, which respondents felt were less accessible when they were more visibly ‘autistic,'” the researchers wrote.

Leela R. Magavi, MD, a psychiatrist and a regional medical director forCommunity Psychiatry+ MindPath Care Centers, tells Verywell that her patients who camouflage “feel more more burned out and depressed.” She adds that individuals who engage in masking early on may not always get adequate help and resources.

“They may struggle with identifying and embracing their authentic self, which could significantly impact self-esteem and even lead to suicidal thoughts,” she says.

While autistic people should not feel forced to take medication to seem less neurodivergent, some may benefit from supportive psychiatric care. Magavi says medications that treat “irritability, aggression, anxiety, ADHD, and various other comorbid disorders” can be helpful in some cases.

What This Means For YouAutistic people may feel pressured to mask or “camouflage” some of their traits in social situations. But camouflaging can lead to exhaustion, worsening mental health, and increased risk of suicide.

What This Means For You

Autistic people may feel pressured to mask or “camouflage” some of their traits in social situations. But camouflaging can lead to exhaustion, worsening mental health, and increased risk of suicide.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. S2215036621001607. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00160-7Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00160-7Hull L, Petrides K, Allison C et al.“Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(8):2519-2534. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. S2215036621001607. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00160-7Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00160-7Hull L, Petrides K, Allison C et al.“Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(8):2519-2534. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. S2215036621001607. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00160-7Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00160-7Hull L, Petrides K, Allison C et al.“Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(8):2519-2534. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5

Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. S2215036621001607. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00160-7

Weir E, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S.Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00160-7

Hull L, Petrides K, Allison C et al.“Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(8):2519-2534. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5

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